a few words about last week's trip trouting in Assynt.
After tubing with Soundmixer, a quick run back to Huntly, rendezvous with Matt-O and northwards to Assynt for 3 days of wild trout fishing in the wild. We based ourselves at the very excellent Inchnadamph Lodge (
http://www.inch-lodge.co.uk/) - self catering, with great kitchen facilities (fridges, cookers, everything you'd need) and a toast and cereal brekkie thrown in. Recommended.
Much poring over maps, and some pouring of whisky, and a plan for Monday was formed. Head high up, then fish a couple of spots on return
Monday, slightly misty, but soon to burn off in strong sun as we took the path behind the lodge to head about 90 mins upwards to a corrie loch known to have a few good fish thanks to a limestone base. Only an idiot would attempt such a walk in waders and his thickest, fleece lined fishing trousers. Long story short, after a seriously hard hike, I arrived soaked in sweat - I swear you could hear it sloshing around in my wader feet. The view was worth it though
We raised a few here, Matt broken off by a decent fish, but bright sun, calm winds (!) and tricky wading didn't help. Beautiful setting in which to blank though. Lunch, another hour or so of fishing then back downhill to loch 2.
We split that up, taking a bank each - it wasn't enormous - and reconvened at the far end to compare catches - it was kinder to us, with some spirited trouts to about 10-12oz.
Loooooooong hike home for tea and medals. and Talisker.
days 2 & 3 were kinda similar - maps, musing, mountains, and much roaming and hiking between waters. I'd switched to just my base layer leggings under the waders, and that was very comfortable and not too sweaty. Note to self...
Lots of this kinda stuff:
Overall, brilliant, if brutally tiring, trip - lochs varied, sometimes the trout were very willing and accordingly wee; other times, you'd see/feel better fish, but not succeed. Best trout for the trip were 12oz. In three days, we fished 7 lochs and 2 burns - I had a good 4-6 oz trout from a burn, sweet!
Flees - well, Matt-O used a kind of Kate with an orange tag with much success; for me, a loch ordie bob fly and peter ross (nostalgia) combo was a winner. Big DH sedges didn't work this time out, disappointingly. Oh, and seeing 3 scum bags with spinning rods and a bag of dead fish was a low - especially when the bastards cut in front of me as I was working down a bank... grrr.
a last word - you cannot help but enjoy catching wee trout - sometimes tiny, sometimes titanic (ish) - it's truly special being that remote for a few days.